The COVID-19 Pandemic: What's New is Old

Course overview

Infectious diseases and pandemics have been a constant in human history and for centuries there were no effective methods for treating illnesses caused by infectious pathogens. There have been successes in the control or prevention of infectious pathogens as seen with the near eradication of smallpox. However, the emergence of COVID-19 as a worldwide pandemic has reinforced the reality that pandemic threats will continue and may even intensify in the coming years. This means that governmental responses to these threats will be required but these responses are complicated by intense public scrutiny. Public reactions to the responses that are implemented during a pandemic, such as governmental lockdowns, vaccine hesitancy, and mandatory vaccination must be effectively addressed. Comparing the 1918 H1N1 influenza pandemic and COVID-19 can be instructive and help shape and improve the public response to future pandemics.